CORVALLIS -- For six and a half innings Saturday, Oregon
State players policed each other. They told teammates to maintain focus. At
some point, they figured, a critical hit or two would push them out of a
one-run deficit against rival Oregon.

As right fielder Dylan Davis and third baseman Caleb
Hamilton strode into their Goss Stadium dugout after authoring a game-changing
eighth inning, right-handed starter Andrew Moore found them for "the biggest
hug I've ever given in my life."

It was much deserved. Davis and Hamilton, both fresh off
two-RBI doubles, had provided the necessary cushion in OSU's eventual 4-2 win.
The late eruption clinched a Civil War series win, coach Pat Casey's 700th OSU
victory and a percentage-points lead over Washington atop the Pac-12 standings.

"It's a tough conference, man, and that's one of the best
teams we've faced all year right there," Casey said. "I'm just really proud of
our guys just sticking with it."

The Beavers had few answers for Ducks (31-12,
10-7 Pac-12) right-hander Jeff Gold. The quirky senior flustered OSU (30-8,
13-4), both in demeanor and command.

Over seven scoreless innings, he showcased a textbook
curveball and pounded fastballs into the strike zone's corners. Gold regularly
stepped off the rubber to wipe dirt from his spikes, drawing the ire of Beavers
fans more with each respite. OSU, meanwhile, seldom threatened to score.

Moore kept victory well within reach. Soon after
surrendering an RBI single to catcher Shaun Chase in the second inning, the sophomore returned to
the player who went 14-2 last season. He racked up strikeouts and breezed
through innings.

"I just told myself, Just battle and go as hard as you can,
let the defense work," Moore said. "It worked out in our favor."

The No. 19 Ducks unraveled when left-handed reliever
Garrett Cleavinger stepped to the mound in the bottom of the eighth
inning. The sophomore immediately loaded the bases with two walks and an Andy
Peterson bloop single.

The Ducks, desperate to avoid a second straight loss, strung
together timely at-bats. With two outs and the bases loaded, Beavers
closer Scott Schultz walked in a run. A Tyler Baumgartner groundout ultimately
squelched the mini-rally.

"I think it just shows everybody what
we're capable of when we really hone in on what we're trying to do," Davis said
of the win.

Davis and Hamilton's heroics somewhat overshadowed a
pitchers' duel. On the night, Moore and Gold allowed just eight hits over
a combined 15 innings pitched.

Gold, mud-clogged cleats and all, simply
vexed OSU. Yet confidence never waned. The Beavers knew their bats would
explode at some point. Gold's departure, of course, provided the impetus.

"He did what he could to keep us off
balance," said Davis, whose Beavers close the three-game Civil War on Sunday
afternoon. "I think that eighth inning came around and we just said, 'Let's put
our foot down and let's play our brand of baseball.'"